New Projects to Warm Campus Climate

April 05, 2016

The climate around the University of Minnesota is warming—in a good way.

On March 21, the Campus Climate Engagement Team (CCET) awarded $4,680 to 10 projects to foster a climate of dialogue, respect, and personal growth that will help everyone on the U of M’s Twin Cities campus feel valued, safe, and welcomed.

The chosen projects were funded by allocating about half the CCET budget—which is provided by President Kaler—for the current academic year. Applicants were asked to focus on one of four themes: furthering dialogue about an issue affecting campus climate, especially among marginalized communities; training to fill in gaps of knowledge or skill that impede progress to improve the campus climate; increasing access and equity for those in marginalized populations; and engaging with people in neighborhoods near campus

“Sometimes, the work of transformation is about supporting a collection of small changes motivated by students, staff, and faculty to create an awareness and commitment to building a healthy campus climate for all,” says Nasreen Mohamed, CCET member and a creator of the micro-grant project.

Lakes are a part of the people of Minnesota’s identity. We all want to protect that. But there are 13 million surface acres of water in Minnesota—and a limited number of paid professionals available to prevent the serious threat of aquatic invasive species (AIS). So U of M faculty members Megan Weber and Dan Larkin are enlisting passionate citizens to protect Minnesota’s waters. Through the innovative AIS Detectors program, volunteers like Stephen Long and Cecilia Riedman are keeping these species from spreading to the pristine waters they call home.

U of M Extension’s Jake Overgaard grew up on a farm. He knows farming, and he understands that it’s changing. He and his Extension educator colleagues are using a new generation of educational tools to meet farmers where they’re at. That might include a podcast on improving disease management (to listen to while they’re driving a combine), or a YouTube video on business planning. Because when it comes to farming, an extra set of hands is always helpful.